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Teaching Ideas: Flashcards
Teaching Ideas: Flashcards
FLASHCARDS
Flashcards can be used in many ways to introduce and practise vocabulary,
as well as consolidate, recycle and extend children’s language. Here are 30
ideas to have up your sleeve!
1. Flash!
Show each flashcard to the children in turn very quickly by holding it at the
sides between your thumb, index and second finger and “flashing” it or turning
it round very quickly. Children look and guess what it is. Re-cast and
introduce the word in English as appropriate.
2. Slowly, slowly!
Choose the flashcards you are going to use and have ready a plain piece of
card the same size. Hold up each flashcard in turn covered completely by the
card at first. Pull down the card to slowly reveal the picture and encourage
children to guess what it is. Children call out the name once they can see
enough to recognise the picture.
3. Point to...!
Stick a set of flashcards on the walls round the classroom. Hold up each one
and get the children to say the names as you do this. Give instructions e.g.
‘Point to the spider! Point to the butterfly!’ Children listen, look round the
classroom and point to the correct flashcard as fast as they can.
5. What’s missing?
Stick a set of flashcards on the blackboard. Hold up each one and get the
children to say the names as you do this. Then say ‘Close your eyes’ and
demonstrate meaning. When children have their eyes closed, quickly remove
one of the flashcards from the blackboard. Children open their eyes and call
out the name of the missing flashcard.
GAMES AND ACTIVITES TO USE WITH FLASHCARDS CAROL READ
6. Magic eyes
Stick a set of no more than six flashcards in a row on the blackboard. Say the
names and get the children to repeat them two or three times. Then remove
the flashcards one by one. Point to where they were and children repeat the
names as if they were still there.
7. Flashcard instructions
Stick a set of flashcards on the walls around the classroom. Divide the class
into groups. Give each group instructions in turn e.g. Group 1. Walk to the
elephant. Group two. Jump to the lion and children respond.
9. Lip reading
Stick a set of flashcards on the blackboard. Choose one flashcard and mouth
the word silently to the class. Children lip read what you are saying and
respond by saying the word out loud.
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GAMES AND ACTIVITES TO USE WITH FLASHCARDS CAROL READ
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GAMES AND ACTIVITES TO USE WITH FLASHCARDS CAROL READ
20. Threes!
Sit in a circle with the children and divide them into two teams. Lay three of
the flashcards out in front of you and elicit or remind children of the names.
Then turn the flashcards over so that the pictures are hidden. Change the
postions of the flashcards on the floor so that the children can no longer easily
identify them. Invite a child from one of the teams to name one of the three
flashcards. This child then tries to find this flashcard by choosing one of them
and turning it over to reveal the picture. If it isn’t the flashcard they named,
the three flashcards are turned over and moved around again and a child from
the other team has a turn in the same way. If it is the flashcard they named,
they keep it for their team. You then need to introduce another flashcard to
make up the three in the game. The game continues in the same way with
the children on each team taking turns to name and turn over the flashcards.
The team with most flashcards at the end of the game are the winners.
Note: For the remaining activities you need word cards as well as flashcards.
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GAMES AND ACTIVITES TO USE WITH FLASHCARDS CAROL READ
27. Stop!
Stick a flashcard on the blackboard and elicit or remind children of the name.
Hold up word cards one by one. Children read the words silently until you
hold up the word card which matches the flashcard. They then call ‘Stop!’ and
read the word out loud. Repeat the procedure with different flashcards.
Note: The above suggestions are compiled and adapted from Read C. & Soberón A.
Superworld 1 & 2 Teachers’ Books, Macmillan Education.
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